32 degrees Celsius……that’s right, CELSIUS…..Welcome Summer!!! While Canadians spend 8 months a year wishing for days like this, when they actually appear most of us spend half the day exhausted because we weren’t able to actually sleep in it.
Here are a few tips to help keep the house as cool as possible, while you sprawl out in your kids pool or hit up the neighbors who have actually invested in A/C:
• Ceiling and box fans: We know these little machines fairly well…..try any Costco or Home Depot on a hot day and the pallets sit empty….fans can help cool your house by 2 or 3 degrees. Place a bowl of ice water in front of the fan for extra cooling power.
• Blinds: Make sure your windows have blinds and that you keep them closed on days like this, as it can cut the heat buildup in your home by 40 or 50%. White mini-blinds are recommended as they reflect heat, and fitted bamboo shades outside can actually cut it by 60-80%.
• Lights: Keep the lights off. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent to cut not only energy usage, but heat as well.
• BBQ: Keep the oven off if you can by using the bbq, microwave or simply eating cold dishes for dinner.
• Ventilate the house when the outside temperature drops. Open the doors and windows at night, and if necessary use a fan outdoors to blow the cool air into the house.
• Humidity can make the air feel warmer, so reduce washing and drying of clothes, showers, dishwasher and boiling water.
If you are heading out to enjoy the sunshine today, please also remember to be smart and safe outside. Wear (and reapply) sunscreen and bring a hat and plenty of water! And under NO circumstances should anyone be leaving a pet in a vehicle on a day like this. If you see a pet suffering in an enclosed vehicle, please call the local police immediately. Keep cool everyone!
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